PSN steps up campaign against drug abuse, misuse

Former Minister of Health, Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi (left); former President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Olumide Akintayo; President, PSN, Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai; and Senator Eme Ufot Ekaette during the Inauguration of the Pharmacy Advisory Board of the Society in Lagos on Tuesday

*Inaugurates Advisory Board

As part of its mandate to eradicate drug abuse and misuse across the country, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Ahmed Yakasai, has said they are currently working on a proposal for the establishment of National Rehabilitation Centre for drug abuse victims.

Yakassi made the remark during the inauguration of Pharmacy Advisory Board (PAB) charged with the duties of advising the President on matters of national importance.

PSN is charged with promoting and maintaining high standard of Pharmaceutical education in Nigeria and also to maintain a high standard of Professional ethics and discipline among its members.

Yakasai said the vision for the pharmacy advisory board is clear as the constitution kindly spelt out the function of the board.
He explained that the established PAB would handle conflicts between individual pharmacists, pharmacists-agencies, and inter-agency conflicts, instill discipline and uplifting of the noble profession.

The President continued: “The pharmacy advisory board shall be the apex conflict resolution platform and final arbiter in organized pharmacy. The pharmacy advisory board shall advice the president on matters of national importance refereed to it by the past president. The board shall be made up of past presidents of the PSN and chairman board of fellows.”

He added: “It gives me utmost pleasure to convey the best wishes of the members, the council and all members of the PSN to our pathfinders, our past presidents and the chairman of board of fellows on this august occasion of the inauguration of the PAB.
I can boldly say that PSN is the primus inter pares of all professional bodies in Nigeria because of your sacrifices and contributions towards the growth and development of our noble society in the past, in the present and hopefully in the future.”

Yakassi believes that with the vast experience and influence of the members of the board they can guide the organised pharmacy in Nigeria to the next level of achievements.

The PSN boss also appealed to the federal government to go all the way by the constituting the governing council of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria and National Agency for Food Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) to enable these two prime regulatory agencies perform optimally in terms of drug distribution and discipline to meet the full complement of their statutory mandates. Hence by so doing it will also enhance the work of the board.

He also said that PSN will present to both the legislative and executive arms of the federal government the proposal of the establishment of National Rehabilitation Centre as they are leaving no stone unturned in their drive to eradicate drug abuse and misuse in Nigeria.

Chairman, PAB, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi in his remarks admitted that progress is being made as the leaders have achieved a lot within a short period of time promising to work together with other members to achieve greater heights.